50 Days Until Kickoff: The Media Days Edition
As we close in on the 2018 season, expectations around the Clemson program continue to be at an all-time high. It is hard to imagine that the offseason will be coming to a close in the next few days for those of us in the media.
Sure, there's still 50 days until Dabo Swinney and the Tigers arrive at the top of Memorial Stadium's hill, but the feeling that it is college football season is rapidly approaching.
Next week we've got the media golf outing, then Charlotte will play host to a revamped ACC Kickoff that has attempted to close the gap on SEC Media Days. In fairness, no one could mistake the two functions, but kudos to the Atlantic Coast Conference for tremendously improving the event.
One area that I feel the ACC will never catch the SEC is in grown men wearing jerseys. I'm kind of glad about that, especially in an environment like media days.
For years, the SEC's Media Days were the cream of the crop, and the basketball dominant ACC's preseason media event failed to hold water. Last year, that seemed to change as the ACC put on a heck of an event and it was pretty incredible arriving at the 2nd floor of The Westin Charlotte and being greeted by National Championship trophies and the Heisman Trophy.
This year, neither award resides in the league, but there was a clear message sent in 2017 that the Atlantic Coast Conference intends to be a league that's competing for college football's top prizes.
This coming week's event allows us a chance to dive into great conversations with coaches, players, bowl executives, and fellow media members. Heck, I might even get a chance to ask Louisville's Bobby Petrino why he's blocked me on Twitter. (I had a chance last year but forgot to ask.)
Clemson will be represented by Mitch Hyatt on offense and Clelin Ferrell will carry the torch for the defensive side of the ball. As I mentioned on the radio show last week, Ferrell is one of the usual players we get a chance to speak with; Hyatt, not so much.
The senior tackle is rarely called on to meet with the media after games, so this will be a great opportunity to peel back some of the layers of the four-year starter. He's one of the winningest players in program history heading into his final season.
I will also get a chance to sit down with Coach Swinney and do my best to squeeze out bits and pieces of information about the looming quarterback battle. I'll also have another chance to dig into the mind of one of the top coaches in the land and really see what makes him tick. I cannot wait.
It should be a lot of fun and last year once the event ended, things were in full swing towards the season. We will have full coverage of the event, plus recaps galore throughout the day and live on our two-hour daily radio show heard on Fox Sports Radio 1400 AM in Columbia, Fox Sports Radio 101.9 FM and 1050 AM in Myrtle Beach/Conway and on iHeart Radio.